It is easily observed that Masonry construction has a wide range of applications. From office buildings, schools, hospitals, houses, apartment buildings, etc., Masonry has been around for over 6,000 years and is one of the most important construction materials. Through-out History, architects and builders have chosen masonry for its beauty, versatility, and durability.

The level of complexity involved in masonry work varies from laying a simple retaining wall or patio to the exterior of a high rise building. However, the artistic qualities of masonry, whether the project calls for brick, or stone, or block, lie strictly in the hands of the mason. Such qualities can never be replaced by a machine, thus making masonry a true art.

The three most prominent masonry construction products with a wide range of applications have been: of the natural, Stone; of the manufactured, Brick & Concrete Block.

Stone Stone work requires exceptional masonry skills and is a laborious process; however, it is more than a life lasting investment for the property. It is undoubtedly one of the most widely used natural materials. With the invention and application of cement during the Roman times, stone became the prominent choice of material for most large scale institutional buildings in Europe.
From aqueducts to cathedrals, stone has stood up to the test of time. In America, stone was an important material in the works of important architects such as Richardson, Frank Lloyd Wright, etc. Regionally, stone as a building material, has contributed to the style of the New England Home. One can find great examples of stone work, particularly as a landscape element, from the state of Connecticut all the way to Maine.
Brick & Block The industry offers manufactured masonry products. The first manufactured masonry product was the Sun-baked brick in Mesopotamia and the Middle –East. Through the centuries the methods for producing brick have evolved. Today, the United States standard brick size is 2 1/2 x 3 3/4 x 8 inches, is composed of clay and is fired in kilns up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

The evolution of brick construction design led, in part, to the development of concrete block. The manufacturing and uses of concrete block evolved over a long period of time. This evolution was prompted by the introduction of the cavity walls (two separate masonry walls with a 2-inch air space between them). Cavity walls were developed to reduce the problems associated with water penetration. Water that would penetrate inside the outer wall would then run down that wall, while the inside wall would remain dry. In 1850 a special block with air cells was developed. Over the years modifications to this product were introduced until the industry arrived at the standardized Concrete Masonry Unit that we see today.

Though the first manufactured masonry product, the Sun-dry brick, was produced by hand, the industry today has moved to total automation. Concrete block plants receive the raw materials via trucks or railroad cars. From there the mix is weighed, transported to a mixer, and fed into a block machine. Color is added if necessary. In seconds the machine can mold a block. The freshly produced blocks are transported with pallets to the steam-curing rooms. After the curing process has successfully been completed, the blocks are stacked and taken to a storage yard for delivery.

WHY MASONRY

• Timeless everlasting beauty that is adequate for all categories of buildings.
• Structural Masonry is economical.
• Save on Insurance casts. Masonry provides the best fire resistance to buildings. It does not burn, bend, or melt. It is in fact the only choice of material for those businesses that can not take any risk or setback that is caused by fire.
• It is environmentally friendly. Masonry is considers a product used in Green Buildings.
• No lag time for production of shop drawings or delays do to fabrication.

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